Rotating drive assembly

ABSTRACT

A rotating drive assembly which may be supported on a vertically movable traveling block suspended in a well derrick. The drive assembly may comprise an elevator assembly adapted for nonthreaded engagement with a tubular member, for handling and transmitting torque thereto, and a power source connected to the elevator assembly for rotation thereof. The elevator assembly may comprise a tubular housing having a longitudinal section removed therefrom to provide a side opening whereby the tubular member may be laterally placed in the housing for substantially coaxial alignment therewith. A set of arcuate shoes having teeth thereon may be mounted in the housing. The shoes and housing may be provided with cooperable cam devices for camming the shoe teeth into tight gripping engagement with the tubular member upon rotation of the housing in either direction relative to the tubular member. The rotating drive assembly may also comprise a threaded drive member between the elevator assembly and power source for threaded engagement with threads on one end of tubular members to be driven by said rotating drive assembly.

United States Patent [191 Brown ROTATING DRIVE ASSEMBLY [76] Inventor: Cicero C. Brown, 8490 Katy Freeway, Houston, Tex. 77024 [22] Filed: Dec. 23, 1971 [21] Appl. N0.: 211,463

Related US. Application Data [63] Continuation-impart of Ser. No. 130,597, April 2,

Primary Examiner-Ernest R. Purser Att0rney-Carlos A. Torres et al.

[ Dec. 4, 1973 [5 7] ABSTRACT A rotating drive assembly which may be supported on a vertically movable traveling block suspended in a well derrick. The drive assembly may comprise an elevator assembly adapted for nomthreaded engagement with a tubular member, for handling and transmitting torque thereto, and a power source connected to the elevator assembly for rotation thereof. The elevator assembly may comprise a tubular housing having a longitudinal section removed therefrom to provide a side opening whereby the tubular member may be laterally placed in the housing for substantially coaxial alignment therewith. A set of arcuate shoes having teeth thereon may be mounted in the housing. The shoes and housing may be provided with cooperable cam devices for camming the shoe teeth into tight gripping engagement with the tubular member upon rotation of the housing in either direction relative to the tubular member. The rotating drive assembly may also comprise a threaded drive member between the elevator assembly and power source for threaded engagement with threads on one end of tubular members to be driven by said rotating drive assembly.

29 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures PATENTED DEC 41975 SHEET 3 BF 1 PAHENTED DEC 4 I973 PATENTED DEC 4 I975 SHEET H 6F 4 1 ROTATING DRIVE ASSEMBLY CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention pertains to the drilling and production of petroleum wells. More specifically, it pertains to driving apparatus for rotating a drill string and for handling the pipe being run into or removed from such a well.

2. Brief Description of the Prior Art In the conventional method of drilling wells, large internal combustion engines or other power sources are employed to rotatea rotary table set in the floor of a drilling derrick. Slidingly engaging a square hole in the rotary table is a square kelly member to which rotary motion is imparted by the table while the kelly is free to slide vertically therethrough. The lower end of the kelly is threadedly connected to the upper end of a string of drill pipe and the rotary motion is carried to a bit located at the lower end of a string.

As lengths of pipe are added or removed from the drill string, it is necessary to employ auxiliary equipment such as wrenches, tongs, elevators, ropes, and chains to threadedly connect and disconnect the pipe members employed in the string. This technique, which is well known is slow and extremely dangerous.

In my US. Pat. application, Ser. No. 130,597, a new and improved method of drilling wells is disclosed in which the heavy rotary table, heavy drive connections, large drilling engines, and appurtenances of conventional well drilling equipment are eliminated. In the improved system, power means, such as an electric motor, for imparting rotary motion to the drill string is supported from the traveling block of a drilling derrick for vertical movement thereon. The power means is provided with an output shaft or stem which maybe provided with a threaded pin for connection to the upper end of a drill string. Also disclosed in the aforementioned application is a connector device which may be connected to the output shaft or stem of the power means and which is adapted for non-threaded engagement with the upper end of a pipe string to impart rotary motion thereto. The connector includes a tubular housing adapted to coaxially receive the upper end of the pipe string and a set of pipe gripping shoes rockably mounted in the housing for angular movement into and out of gripping engagement with the upper end of the well pipe in accordance with the direction of angular movement of the housing relative to the pipe string. Thus, the pipe string may be rotated by the connector for drilling or joints of pipe may be connected and disconnected from the string as they are run into or removed from the well.

However, one disadvantage of the connector described therein is that to engage a particular pipe section, the connector must be slipped over the end of the ,pipe while it is coaxially aligned therewith. Most pipe means are provided in the connector for supporting the pipe string by engaging the upset or collar portion thereof, such a means or shoulder must be retracted when the connector is placed around the end of the pipe joint. In the particular connector described in the aforementioned patent, a hydraulic piston assembly is provided for such a purpose. Of course, this requires operation every time a new joint of pipe is engaged or disengaged by the connector. Such a system requires additional attention by the operator and creates addi' tional maintenance problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In the present invention, a new and improved connector is disclosed which eliminates problems inherent in the aforementioned connector. Like the former connector, it is provided with a tubular housing and a set of pipe gripping shoes mounted in the housing and adapted for movement into and out of gripping engagement with a pipe member in accordance with thedirection of rotation of the connector. However, unlike the former connector, the tubular housing has a longitudinal section removed therefrom to form a side opening through which a pipe member may be laterally placed in the housing for substantial coaxial alignment therewith. A latch assembly may be provided for blocking lateral movement of a pipe member through the side opening. With such a modification, a means for supporting the string in the connector by engagement with enlarged portions thereof, may be provided which does not require retraction thereof. Thus, the expensive and more complex hydraulic system of the former connector may be eliminated.

In addition, the connector assembly of the present invention may also be provided with a threaded drive member which may be connected to the output shaft or stem of the power unit carried by the traveling block. The first described portion of the connector means may then be used primarily as break-out or make-up elevators while the second described threaded portion may be used for driving the drill string. To facilitate such uses, the elevator portion may be supported at a point below the threaded drive portion. This support may be provided by swingable connection means whereby the axis of the elevator portion may be inclined relative to the vertical. Thus, the elevator portion can be swung out of vertical alignment for lateral placement around the end of a pipe projecting upwardly from the well hole, a pipe joint standing in the derrick or one stacked in a pipe rack next to the derrick.

As will be more fully understood from the following description, the connector of the present invention eliminates the problems inherent in the former connector. A connector assembly is provided which is extremely versatile, quick to connect, and easy to operate and maintain. Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the accompanying drawings and specification and claims which follow.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a partial vertical elevation, schematically illustrating the rotary drive assembly of the present invention in a well drilling derrick;

FIG. 2 is a vertical elevation in quarter-section of an exemplary embodiment of a drive connector assembly of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a horizontal cross-section of the elevator portion of the drive connector assembly of FIG. 2 taken along line 3-3 thereof;

FIG. 4 is a horizontal cross-section of the elevator portion taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a horizontal cross-section of the elevator portion taken along line S5 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a horizontal cross-section of the connector of FIG. 2 taken along line 66 thereof;

FIG. 7 is a horizontal cross-section of a modified form of the invention taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 8; and

FIG. 8 is a partial vertical elevation in quarter-section of the modified form of the invention illustrated in FIG. 7.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring first to FIG. 1, there is shown a well derrick D from the crown block A of which is suspended on cables C a vertically movable traveling block T. Supported on traveling block T for vertical movement therewith is a power swivel S and drive connector assembly K. The power swivel S may include an electric motor M and a gear assembly G for supplying rotary motion to an output shaft or stem 0. A fluid line F supplies drilling mud or other fluids to the power swivel S for conduction through the tubular output shaft or stem 0, during drilling operations. One such power swivel S is disclosed in the aforementioned US. Pat. application Ser. No. 130,597. A modified form of the power swivel is disclosed in US. Pat. application Ser. No. 206,325 filed on Dec. 9, 1971 entitled ROTARY DRIVE ASSEMBLY FOR HANDLING TUBULAR MEMBERS."

The drive connector assembly K comprises a drive head H threadingly attached to the output shaft and an elevator assembly E vertically spaced downwardly therefrom. The elevator assembly E may be swingably suspended from the drive head H by a pair of elongated link members L. Normally, elevator assembly E is coaxially aligned with the axis of drive head H and power swivel S. However, due to its swingable connection, the elevator assembly E may be angularly displaced so that its axis is inclined to the vertical.

The elevator assembly is shown surrounding the upper end of a pipe string P which projects upwardly from the well hole. The elevator assembly E, as will be more clearly understood hereafter, is adapted for nonthreaded engagement with the upper, normally enlarged diameter portion of the pipe joint P. Since the drive connector assembly K is directly connected to the power swivel S, both the drive head H and elevator assembly E will rotate in whichever direction the stem or shaft 0 rotates. The elevator assembly E is adapted for movement into and out of gripping engagement with the upper end of pipe joint P in accordance with the direction of rotation and can therefore be used to breakout or make-up joints of pipe P from or with adjacent joints. When torque is not being applied to the elevator assembly E, its gripping means rests in a neutral position, as will be more fully understood hereafter, so that it may be axially displaced along pipe joint P to allow the threaded engagement of drive head threads 21 with the threads in the upper end of pipe joint P. In fact, this position of the connector assembly K is the one normally assumed during rotation of the drill string.

Referring now to FIGS. 2-6, a preferred embodiment of the connector assembly K will be described. As stated before, the drive head H is threadingly connected in a pin and box joint 22 with the output stem 0 of a suitable power swivel. The drive head H is provided with a tubular body portion 23 on the lower end of which is provided threads 21 for engagement with threads in the end of pipe joints such as the threads 25 of pipe joint P. Surrounding the tubular body 23 and projecting radially outward therefrom is a web or support structure 27, on the opposite sides of which is carried a pair of trunion extensions 29. Supported on the trunions 29 are the pair of elongated links L by which the elevator assembly E is swingably suspended from the drive head H. A pair of bearing caps 30 are attached to the trunions 29 by screws 31 to prevent their accidental displacement. FIG. 6 illustrates the drive head H as viewed from above.

The elevator assembly E comprises a tubular housing on the opposite sides of which is provided a pair of trunion extensions 41 engaging corresponding holes on the lower end of links L for support thereby. Bearing caps 42 and screws 43 maintain the connection. A longitudinal section of the tubular housing 40 is removed to provide a side opening 45 of a width sufficient to allow passage of the reduced diameter portion of pipe section P below the upset end 26. The base 47 of housing 40 projects inwardly to provide an upwardly facing annular surface 48 on which rests a horseshoe shaped support collar 50.

The support collar 50 is provided with an inverted frusto-conical surface 51 on which the upset or enlarged portion 26 of pipe joint P may rest for support. The support collar 50 rides on a plurality of rollers 54 which are mounted on radially projecting shafts 55. (See also FIG. 5) Thus, the pipe joint P and the entire string connected therebelow may be supported on collar 50 which is in turn supported on housing 40 from drive head H, power swivel S, travel block T, and eventually the well derrick D. As can be seen from FIG. 5, the support collar 50 also has a side opening 57 which, when aligned with housing opening 45, allows lateral entry of pipe joint P for substantial coaxial alignment with housing 40 and collar 50.

Surmounted on collar 50 within housing 40 is a gripping assembly which comprises a set of arcuate shoes 60 on the inner face of which are provided longitudinally toothed key members 62. The keys 62 are shaped to engage corresponding dovetail slots in the shoe members 60 to prevent dislodging of the keys 62. Mounted in recesses 63 provided therefor at the back of each shoe 60 are a pair of roller members 64 mounted on a vertical shaft 65. These rollers 64 are partially disposed in arcuate recesses 67, 68 projecting radially into the walls of housing 40. The centers of radius for the recesses 67, 68 lie away from the axis of the elevator assembly E so that starting from the center of the recesses 67, 68 and moving in either direction, they merge toward the inner walls of housing 40 providing acamming surface which when engaged by rollers 64 cam the shoe members 60 and toothed keys 62 into tight gripping engagement with the exterior of upset pipe portion 26. (For example, see FIG. 7.) The shoes 60 are vertically guided and restrained against removal from housing 40 by a retainer plate 49.

When in the neutralposition of FIG. 3, there is no assurance that the toothed members 62 will engage the pipe portion 26 sufficiently to cause the shoes to be cammed into engagement. Therefore, collar member 50 and the lower edge of shoes 60 are provided with interengaging lugs and slots 71 by which the shoes 60 will be caused to rotate relative to housing 40 when a torque is applied to housing 40. This is due to the fact that since pipe joint P is resting on collar 50, the collar 50 and shoes 60 will not rotate initially with the housing 40 until the shoe members 60 are sufficiently cammed into tight gripping engagement with the pipe joint P. Of course, after being cammed into tight gripping engagement with the upset portion 26, further torque applied to housing 40 will cause the shoes 60 to rotate pipe P breaking its connection with adjoining pipe sections or if rotated in the opposite direction making the pipe joint Pup with adjacent pipe sections.

To assure that the pipe shoes 60 are properly cammed into position even though the pipe joint P may not be resting on support collar 50, a modification may be made as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. The modification consists of the placement of a leaf or drag spring 75 between the toothed key members 62. The drag spring 75 is always in contact with the enlarged portion 26 of pipe string P. Thus, the shoes 60 are forced toward the camming position as the housing 40 is rotated relative to pipe string P.

Another important feature of the invention is the latching apparatus provided therewith. The latching apparatus comprises a pair of L-shaped latches80 pivotally attached to the housing 40 on pivot pins8l and mounting brackets 82. In the closed positions shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the foot portions 83 of the latch members are disposed in a position blocking lateral entry to or exit from the housing and support collar side openings 45 and 57. By applying a force to the leg portions 85 of latches 80, the latches may be pivoted about pins 81 so that the foot portions 83 pivot away from the side openings and leave the side openings 45, 57 free of obstructions, to allow lateral entry or exit of a pipe to or from the elevator assembly E. Hand grip handles may be provided on the leg portions 85 for manual operation. In addition, hydraulic cylinder and piston assemblies 90 may be provided for hydraulic operation of the latches 80. The piston and cylinder assemblies 90 would be attached to the housing 40.

In addition to serving the purpose of blocking or permitting lateral entry of pipe into the elevator assembly E, the latches80 also serve another purpose. They act as alignment means for the support collar andshoes 60. For example, if after applying torque to a pipe joint, the collar 50 and shoes 60 rest in an angular position such as shown in FIG. 7, they must be returned to the aligned position of FIGS. 3 and 4 to allow removal of the pipe and engagement with anotherpipe joint. As the latches are opened, the tip 78 of the latch foot 83 nearest to one of the shoes 60 comes to bear against a cam surface 88 (see FIG. 4) provided by cutting a recess in the ends of horseshoe collar 50. Further force applied to the latches causes the support collar 50 and consequently shoes 60to be angularly displaced back to their proper position of alignment as shown in FIGS.

In summary, the rotating drive assembly of the present invention comprises a drive connector which is preferably attached to a vertically movable support. such as the traveling block in a derrick. The drive connector is connected directly to a power swivel which is also carried by the traveling block. The drive connector may be used both for rotating a pipe string in a petroleum well and for breaking-out or making-up joints of pipe in the string. It comprises a threaded drive head portion which may be threadedlly connected to the upper end of the pipe string for rotation thereof. Vertically spaced there-below by a swingable connection is an elevator portion adapted for non-threaded engagement with enlarged diameter portions of the pipe string for breaking-out or making-up joints. The elevator portion is axially movable on a pipe joint to allow selective engagement by the elevator portion or the drive head portion. It is also swingable to an inclined angle and adapted to allow placement around pipe joints at various locations without having to slip the elevators over the end of the pipe joint.

Thus,the rotating drive assembly of the present invention is a definite improvement over prior drive assemblies. In combination with a suitable power source and support, the drive connector provides a versatile, easily operated and maintained method of rotating a drill string and pulling or running pipe strings in a well.

Although only two exemplary embodiments have been described herein, many variations of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art. It is therefore intended that the scope of the invention be limited only by the claims which follow.

I claim:

1. A rotary drive assembly for rotating tubular members comprising:

a. support means for supporting said drive assembly;

b. power means carried by said. support means for producing rotary motion;

c. drive connector means carried by said support means and connected to said power means and adapted for engagement with a tubular member for transmitting torque thereto;

d.'elevator means included with said drive connector means comprising a tubular housing having a longitudinal section removed therefrom to form a side opening whereby said tubular member may be laterally placed in said housing for substantially coaxial alignment therewith; and

e. gripping means mounted in said housing and adapted for movement into and out of gripping engagement with said tubular member in accordance with the direction of rotation of said drive connector means by said power means, said gripping means comprising a set of arcuate shoes, having teeth thereon for said gripping engagement with said tubular member, said shoes and said housing being provided with cooperable cam means for camming said teeth into tight gripping engagement with said tubular member upon rotation of said housing in either direction relative to said tubular member.

2. A rotary drive assembly as set forth in claim 1 inwhich said teeth on said shoes comprise a pair of longitudinally disposed tooth members between which are mounted a drag spring engageable with said tubular member on said rotation of said housing in either direction to ensure said camming of said teeth into said tight gripping engagement with said tubular member.

4. A rotary drive assembly as set forth in claim 1 in which said elevator means comprises latch means connected to said housing movable from a first position, allowing lateral entry of said tubular member through said side opening, to a second position, blocking lateral movement of said tubular member through said side opening.

5. A rotary drive assembly as set forth in claim 1 in which said drive connector means comprises a threaded drive member between said elevator means and said power means, said elevator means being axially movable along said tubular member to allow threaded engagement of said threaded drive member with threads on one end of said tubular member for transmitting said torque thereto.

6. A rotating drive assembly for rotating tubular members comprising:

a. support means for supporting said drive assembly;

b. elevator means carried by said support means and adapted for non-threaded engagement with a tubular member to transmit torque thereto, said elevator means comprising a tubular housing having a longitudinal section removed therefrom to provide a side opening whereby said tubular member may be laterally placed in said housing for substantially coaxial alignment therewith;

c. power means connected to said elevator means for rotation thereof to apply said torque to said tubular member; and

d. gripping means mounted in said housing and adapted for movement into and out of gripping engagement with said tubular member in accordance with the direction of rotation of said elevator means, said gripping means comprising a set of arcuate shoe members having teeth thereon for said gripping engagement with said tubular member, said shoe members and said housing being provided with cam means cooperable upon rotation of said housing in either direction, relative to said tubular member, to cam said teeth into tight gripping engagement with said tubular member.

7. A rotating drive'assembly as set forth in claim 6 characterized by arcuate shoulder means carried by said housing engageable with larger diameter portions of said tubular member to support said tubular member on said elevator means even when teeth are not engaging said tubular member.

8. A rotating drive assembly as set forth in claim 7 in which said arcuate shoulder means comprises a horseshoe shaped collar member with a lateral side opening therethrough mounted on rollers for limited rotation relative to said housing.

9. A rotating drive assembly as set forth in claim 8 in which said arcuate shoe members ride on said collar member, said collar member and said shoe members being provided with engaging lug and slot means cooperating to maintain radial alignment of said shoe members relative to each other.

10. A rotating drive assembly as set forth in claim 9 I in which said teeth on said shoe members comprise a pair of toothed key members longitudinally disposed in key slots in said shoe members. a drag spring being mounted between said pair of key members adapted for engagement with said tubular member on rotation of said housing in either direction to ensure camming of said teeth into said tight gripping engagement with said tubular member.

11. A rotating drive assembly as set forth in claim 9 in which said elevator means comprises latch means connected to said housing and movable from a first position, blocking lateral entry or exit of said tubular member through said side openings in said housing and collar member, to a second position, permitting lateral entry or exit through said side openings.

12. A rotating drive assembly as set forth in claim 11 in which said latch means is provided with camming means engageable with said collar member on movement from said first position to said second position to radially align said collar member side opening with said housing side opening.

13. A rotating-drive assembly as set forth in claim 11 in which said support means comprises a vertically movable traveling block suspended in a derrick.

14. A rotating drive assembly as set forth in claim 13 and a threaded drive member carried by said support means and connected to said power means, said elevator means being axially movable along said tubular member to allow threaded engagement of said threaded drive member with threads on one end of said tubular member for transmitting torque thereto.

15. A rotating drive assembly as set forth in claim 14 in which said elevator means is connected to said threaded drive member by swingable connection means whereby the axis of said elevator means may be inclined relative to the vertical.

16. A rotating drive assembly as set forth in claim 6 in which said cam means comprises arcuate recesses radially disposed in the walls of said housing, a portion of said shoe members being disposed in said arcuate recesses for engagement with the walls thereof whereby rotation of said housing relative to said shoe members forces said shoe members into said tight gripping engagement with said tubular member.

17. A rotating drive assembly as set forth in claim 16 in which the said portion of said shoe members disposed in said arcuate recesses comprises a pair of coaxially aligned rollers and shaft about the axes of which said shoe members pivot for rocking movement into said tight gripping engagement with said tubular member.

18. A rotary drive assembly for handling a cylindrical member comprising:

a. means for moving said assembly vertically;

b. elevator means carried by and pivotable relative to said assembly;

c. powering means included in said assembly for rotating said elevator means;

d. gripping means carried by said elevator means and selectively engagable with said cylindrical member for imparting rotary motion from said elevator means to said cylindrical member;

e. force increasing means for increasing the radially directed gripping force exerted by said gripping means as the forces tending to resist rotation of said cylindrical member increase; and

f. access means included in said elevator means for operatively engaging said cylindrical member by movement of said elevator means laterally relative to the axis of said cylindrical member.

19. A rotary drive assembly as defined in claim 18 wherein:

a. said elevator means includes housing means; and

b. said gripping means is carried within said housing means and includes actuating means for moving said gripping means radially in response to relative circumferential movement between said gripping means and said housing means.

20. A rotary drive assembly as defined in claim 19 further including latch means for selectively opening or closing said access means for permitting acquisition or release of said cylindrical member by said elevator means when said access means is open or for retaining said member in engagement with said elevator means when said access means is closed.

21. A rotary drive assembly as defined in claim 20 wherein:

a. said access means includes lateral opening means in said housing means; and

b. said latch means includes dual latch elements pivotably secured to said housing means and operable to swing into a position blocking or opening said lateral opening means.

22. A rotary drive assembly as defined in claim 20 further including latch powering means for moving said latch means to the positions opening or closing said access means.

23. A rotary drive assembly as defined in claim 22 further including:

a. positive return means for positively retracting said gripping means from a radially inward position to a radially outward position where said cylindrical member is released by said gripping means;

b. drag producing means for temporarily holding said gripping means substantially stationary relative to said cylindrical member whereby rotation of said elevator means relative to said member produces an initial relative rotational movement between said gripping means and said housing means; and

c. drive connector means carried by said assembly and selectively engagable with said cylindrical member for imparting movement to said member. 24. A rotary drive assembly as defined in claim 23 wherein:

a. said access means includes lateral opening means in said housing means; and i b. said latch means includes dual latch elements pivotably secured to said housing means and operable to swing into a position blocking or opening said lateral opening means.

25. A rotary drive assembly as defined in claim 19 further including positive return means for positively retracting said gripping means from a radially inward position to a radially outward position where said cylindrical member is released by said gripping means.

26. A rotary drive assembly as defined in claim 19 further including drag producing means for temporarily holding said gripping means substantially stationary relative to said cylindrical member whereby rotation of said elevator means relative to said member produces an initial relative rotational movement between said gripping means and said housing means.

27. A rotary drive assembly as defined in claim 26 wherein said drag producing means includes resilient spring means.

28. A rotary drive assembly as defined in claim 18 further including drive connector means carried by said assembly and selectively engagable with said cylindrical member for imparting movement to said member.

29. A rotary drive assembly as defined in claim 28 wherein said drive connector means includes a threaded cylindrical drive stem having means for threaded engagement with said cylindrical member. 

1. A rotary drive assembly for rotating tubular members comprising: a. support means for supporting said drive assembly; b. power means carried by said support means for producing rotary motion; c. drive connector means carried by said support means and connected to said power means and adapted for engagement with a tubular member for transmitting torque thereto; d. elevator means included with said drive connector means comprising a tubular housing having a longitudinal section removed therefrom to form a side opening whereby said tubular member may be laterally placed in said housing for substantially coaxial alignment therewith; and e. gripping means mounted in said housing and adapted for movement into and out of gripping engagement with said tubular member in accordance with the direction of rotation of said drive connector means by said power means, said gripping means comprising a set of arcuate shoes, having teeth thereon for said gripping engagement with said tubular member, said shoes and said housing being provided with cooperable cam means for camming said teeth into tight gripping engagement with said tubular member upon rotation of said housing in either direction relative to said tubular member.
 2. A rotary drive assembly as set forth in claim 1 in which said cam means comprises arcuate recesses radially disposed in the walls of said housing and roller means attached to said shoes for longitudinal disposition in said arcuate recesses whereby said shoes are rockably mounted on said roller means for camming movement into said tight gripping engagement with said tubular member on the arcuate movement of said roller means along said arcuate recesses.
 3. A rotary drive assembly as set forth in claim 1 in which said teeth on said shoes comprise a pair of longitudinally disposed tooth members between which are mounted a drag spring engageable with said tubular member on said rotation of said housing in either direction to ensure said camming of said teeth into said tight gripping engagement with said tubular member.
 4. A rotary drive assembly as set forth in claim 1 in which said elevator means comprises latch means connected to said housing movable from a first position, allowing lateral entry of said tubular member through said side opening, to a second position, blocking lateral movement of said tubular member through said side opening.
 5. A rotary drive assembly as set forth in claim 1 in which said drive connector means comprises a threaded drive member between said elevator means and said power means, said elevator means being axially movable along said tubular member to allow threaded engagement of said threaded drive member with threads on one end of said tubular member for transmitting said torque thereto.
 6. A rotating drive assembly for rotating tubular members comprising: a. support means for supporting said drive assembly; b. elevator means carried by said support means and adapted for non-threaded engagement with a tubular member to transmit torque thereto, said elevator means comprising a tubular housing having a longitudinal section removed therefrom to provide a side opening whereby said tubular member may be laterally placed in said housing for substantially coaxial alignment therewith; c. power means connected to said elevator means for rotation thereof to apply said torque to said tubular member; and d. gripping means mounted in said housing and adapted for movement into and out of gripping engagement with said tubular member in accordance with the direction of rotation of said elevator means, said gripping means comprising a set of arcuate shoe members having teeth thereon for said gripping engagement with said tubular member, said shoe members and said housing being provided with cam means cooperable upon rotation of said housing in either direction, relative to said tubUlar member, to cam said teeth into tight gripping engagement with said tubular member.
 7. A rotating drive assembly as set forth in claim 6 characterized by arcuate shoulder means carried by said housing engageable with larger diameter portions of said tubular member to support said tubular member on said elevator means even when teeth are not engaging said tubular member.
 8. A rotating drive assembly as set forth in claim 7 in which said arcuate shoulder means comprises a horseshoe shaped collar member with a lateral side opening therethrough mounted on rollers for limited rotation relative to said housing.
 9. A rotating drive assembly as set forth in claim 8 in which said arcuate shoe members ride on said collar member, said collar member and said shoe members being provided with engaging lug and slot means cooperating to maintain radial alignment of said shoe members relative to each other.
 10. A rotating drive assembly as set forth in claim 9 in which said teeth on said shoe members comprise a pair of toothed key members longitudinally disposed in key slots in said shoe members, a drag spring being mounted between said pair of key members adapted for engagement with said tubular member on rotation of said housing in either direction to ensure camming of said teeth into said tight gripping engagement with said tubular member.
 11. A rotating drive assembly as set forth in claim 9 in which said elevator means comprises latch means connected to said housing and movable from a first position, blocking lateral entry or exit of said tubular member through said side openings in said housing and collar member, to a second position, permitting lateral entry or exit through said side openings.
 12. A rotating drive assembly as set forth in claim 11 in which said latch means is provided with camming means engageable with said collar member on movement from said first position to said second position to radially align said collar member side opening with said housing side opening.
 13. A rotating drive assembly as set forth in claim 11 in which said support means comprises a vertically movable traveling block suspended in a derrick.
 14. A rotating drive assembly as set forth in claim 13 and a threaded drive member carried by said support means and connected to said power means, said elevator means being axially movable along said tubular member to allow threaded engagement of said threaded drive member with threads on one end of said tubular member for transmitting torque thereto.
 15. A rotating drive assembly as set forth in claim 14 in which said elevator means is connected to said threaded drive member by swingable connection means whereby the axis of said elevator means may be inclined relative to the vertical.
 16. A rotating drive assembly as set forth in claim 6 in which said cam means comprises arcuate recesses radially disposed in the walls of said housing, a portion of said shoe members being disposed in said arcuate recesses for engagement with the walls thereof whereby rotation of said housing relative to said shoe members forces said shoe members into said tight gripping engagement with said tubular member.
 17. A rotating drive assembly as set forth in claim 16 in which the said portion of said shoe members disposed in said arcuate recesses comprises a pair of coaxially aligned rollers and shaft about the axes of which said shoe members pivot for rocking movement into said tight gripping engagement with said tubular member.
 18. A rotary drive assembly for handling a cylindrical member comprising: a. means for moving said assembly vertically; b. elevator means carried by and pivotable relative to said assembly; c. powering means included in said assembly for rotating said elevator means; d. gripping means carried by said elevator means and selectively engagable with said cylindrical member for imparting rotary motion from said elevator means to said cylindrical member; e. force increasing means for increasing the Radially directed gripping force exerted by said gripping means as the forces tending to resist rotation of said cylindrical member increase; and f. access means included in said elevator means for operatively engaging said cylindrical member by movement of said elevator means laterally relative to the axis of said cylindrical member.
 19. A rotary drive assembly as defined in claim 18 wherein: a. said elevator means includes housing means; and b. said gripping means is carried within said housing means and includes actuating means for moving said gripping means radially in response to relative circumferential movement between said gripping means and said housing means.
 20. A rotary drive assembly as defined in claim 19 further including latch means for selectively opening or closing said access means for permitting acquisition or release of said cylindrical member by said elevator means when said access means is open or for retaining said member in engagement with said elevator means when said access means is closed.
 21. A rotary drive assembly as defined in claim 20 wherein: a. said access means includes lateral opening means in said housing means; and b. said latch means includes dual latch elements pivotably secured to said housing means and operable to swing into a position blocking or opening said lateral opening means.
 22. A rotary drive assembly as defined in claim 20 further including latch powering means for moving said latch means to the positions opening or closing said access means.
 23. A rotary drive assembly as defined in claim 22 further including: a. positive return means for positively retracting said gripping means from a radially inward position to a radially outward position where said cylindrical member is released by said gripping means; b. drag producing means for temporarily holding said gripping means substantially stationary relative to said cylindrical member whereby rotation of said elevator means relative to said member produces an initial relative rotational movement between said gripping means and said housing means; and c. drive connector means carried by said assembly and selectively engagable with said cylindrical member for imparting movement to said member.
 24. A rotary drive assembly as defined in claim 23 wherein: a. said access means includes lateral opening means in said housing means; and b. said latch means includes dual latch elements pivotably secured to said housing means and operable to swing into a position blocking or opening said lateral opening means.
 25. A rotary drive assembly as defined in claim 19 further including positive return means for positively retracting said gripping means from a radially inward position to a radially outward position where said cylindrical member is released by said gripping means.
 26. A rotary drive assembly as defined in claim 19 further including drag producing means for temporarily holding said gripping means substantially stationary relative to said cylindrical member whereby rotation of said elevator means relative to said member produces an initial relative rotational movement between said gripping means and said housing means.
 27. A rotary drive assembly as defined in claim 26 wherein said drag producing means includes resilient spring means.
 28. A rotary drive assembly as defined in claim 18 further including drive connector means carried by said assembly and selectively engagable with said cylindrical member for imparting movement to said member.
 29. A rotary drive assembly as defined in claim 28 wherein said drive connector means includes a threaded cylindrical drive stem having means for threaded engagement with said cylindrical member. 